Methamphetamine (meth) is one of the most addictive and widely abused illicit drugs on the market today. Since the early 1990s, meth has saturated the club scene and inner cities in crystallized form. Made from a combination of toxic compounds, meth provides users with fleeting sensations but can ultimately cause bodily impairments and even death. Hardcore users will often drain their bank accounts just to feed their meth addictions, despite risking tremendous consequences to their health, livelihoods, relationships and personal liberties.

Meth is addictive because it tricks the reward center in a user’s brain, regardless of the situation at hand. Therefore, users typically feel instant rushes of euphoria that non-users only experience under extremely happy circumstances. Through recurrent usage, a person can develop tolerance towards meth that only lessons its effects, thereby necessitating stronger dosages to recreate the same sensations. Once a user restructures his or her life around the process of obtaining and consuming meth, an addiction has taken hold.

The Rapid Rise of Meth Consumption

Meth abuse has increased during the last 20 years, in spite of all the dangers associated with the drug. According to info compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the percentage of treatment admissions for meth abuse jumped from 4 to 9 percent between 1995 and 2005. Of the 1.8 million admissions accounted for in the 2005 figure, meth was the primary drug of choice for 169,500 addicts and the secondary drug for an additional 80,000 users.

Reasons People Use Meth

As with many drugs, meth can initially bring about desired feelings. Some users are drawn to meth for the following effects:

• Euphoria
• Increased energy
• Heightened libido
• Weight loss

Women with body issues are sometimes drawn to meth because of its effects as a weight reducer and appetite suppressant. Addiction takes hold as the weight-reducing effects are stalled through prolonged use and bodily tolerance. The drug has also been popular as a sexual enhancer within certain high-risk lifestyles, in which many users will mix meth with other drugs in advance of intercourse. Scenarios in that last category are especially risky, because common sense regarding sexual practices is often clouded when under the influence of meth and other hard drugs.

Physical Dangers of Meth Consumption

Prolonged meth abuse can lead to numerous forms of mental and physical damage, from convulsions and hypertension to memory loss and liver damage. Nonetheless, the drug continues to attract many first-time users. In a 2004 national survey conducted by SAMHSA, percentages of meth use amongst teenagers was highest in the following states:

• South Dakota:  2.4 percent
• Montana:  2.3 percent
• North Dakota:  1.7 percent
• Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming:  tied at 1.6 percent

In addition to the numerous psychological and health risks attributed to meth, the drug can also have grave consequences on a user’s physical appearance. Photos compiled by the Meth Project Foundation reveal many sad stories of users who have suffered severe facial scars and deformities after various periods of consumption. The effects of meth are obviously not pretty, in spite of the aesthetic and sexual promises that lure certain people into using the drug.

If you have been struggling with meth addiction, there are programs available that can help you win your fight. Our caring and committed staff members here at Axis are ready to take your call and guide you along the path to a sober and healthy life.